74 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
number of smaller springs, is quite a good-sized stream. It lias been dammed and 
furnishes an abundance of power for a flouring mill. 
When the Texas State Fish Commission was in existence the station and ponds 
were located on the bank of this creek. The water was gotten upon the grounds by 
means of a small turbine wheel at the dam. This land could no doubt be had now for 
hatchery purposes and would seem to be very suitable ground, unless, indeed, the 
acreage be insufficient. 
In a report by Jos. P. Frizell, on the proposed dam and waterworks for the city of 
Austin, it is stated : 
The Colorado, above Austin, hows in a deep cut or canon worn in the limestone rock. It is skirted 
hy limestone bluffs rising often to the height of 150 feet above the bed of the river, broken by the 
erosion of tributary streams. No extensive meadows or bottom lands exist. The river, in its normal 
condition, occupies but a small part of the channel in the rock, the remainder being occupied by allu- 
vial deposits to the depth of average high water. In great hoods the river spreads from bluff to bluff. 
At this point, about 2 miles above Austin, the city has begun the construction of 
an immense dam for the purpose of furnishing water to the city and power to many 
manufactories and other industries requiring it. 
Mr. Frizell further says: 
The channel in the rock is at this point about 1,150 feet wide at a height of 60 feet above the 
summer level of the river. The cross section of the channel is not far from level on the bottom, and 
is bounded by nearly perpendicular walls of rock rising to the height of a little over 60 feet, on the 
city side of the river, and 125 or more on the other side. The river bed proper occupies not more 
than one-lialf of this width, the remainder of this being alluvial deposit, rising to the height of 40 or 
50 feet above the river bed. The situation here is admirably well suited to the development of water 
power by a dam about 60 feet in height, the perpendicular face of rock rising to about that height, 
and thence receding from the river in a gentle slope, forming a bench on which the canal or feeder 
could be constructed, the alluvial strip of ground between the canal and river furnishing sites for 
pumping and power stations, and any other establishments requiring power. 
The Colorado, at Austin, drains some 40,000 square miles, and, of course, carries, at times, an enor- 
mous flow of water. The highest flood, within the memory of the people now living, was some 45 feet 
above low water, and from the beat data I can obtain the flow of the stream was some 250,000 cubic 
feet per second. 
This dam is now well under way, and will be completed within a year or two. 
About 2,000 feet below the dam, on the left bank of the river, is a tract of land 
very suitable for a station. Still farther down, less than three-eighths of a mile, is 
another equally good tract. The top of the dam will be at least 10 feet above the 
highest part of either of these tracts. All this land slopes gently toward the river and 
lies beautifully for the laying out of ponds. Ordinarily water taken from the dam 
would prove suitable, but at times when the river is roily, water could be gotten from 
the large reservoir to be constructed on the high hills above the dam. The city would 
doubtless make satisfactory arrangements and guarantees as to water rights. 
If land can be had on reasonable terms, the location would prove very desirable. 
